Corruption, Estonia, Legislation
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Thursday, 25.04.2024, 06:29
Estonian chief prosecutor's office confirms that Savisaar has been charged
Based on the evidence collected by investigators, Mayor Edgar Savisaar has been charged with
repeated agreeing to the acceptance of a bribe on a big scale and acceptance
thereof, money laundering committed on a big scale, embezzlement committed
on a big scale and on repeated occasions, and acceptance of prohibited
donations for the party on a big scale. According to the charges, acting
in his capacity as mayor of Tallinn, Edgar Savisaar accepted bribe and agreed
in this connection to fulfil his work duties.
The charge of embezzlement of budgetary funds of the City of
Tallinn has to do with the use of the city's funds for the production of
electoral posters ahead of the municipal elections in 2013. During the pretrial
proceeding several officials of the city government and other individuals were
declared suspects.
With regard to seven officials the prosecutor's office
closed proceedings in the absence of grounds for prosecution, finding that the
actions of the officials were not carried by the desire to embezzle the city's funds
for the party or persons connected with it. With regard to seven persons the
proceeding was closed as the prosecutor's office found that the guilt and role
of these individuals in committing the offense was not crucial. The said
individuals have been assigned a financial obligation for an amount to be paid
into the state coffers and they must partly cover the costs of the criminal
proceeding.
Chief State Prosecutor Steven-Hristo
Evestus said that in the course of the pretrial proceeding three criminal
cases were brought together. Within the framework of the said criminal case
cash in the total amount of more than 200,000 euros has been arrested to secure
substitution of confiscation, he said.
"In the investigation of the cases listed here we have
reached the next stage, that of sending the statement of charges to the court.
Since the judiciary proceeding still lies ahead, detailed disclosure of the
evidence gathered within the framework of the criminal case and of the charges
will happen in the courtroom," Evestus added.
It has been disclosed earlier that businessmen Aivar Tuulberg, Alexander Kofkin, Hillar Teder and Vello Kunman are accused of giving a bribe to Savisaar and
advertising businessman Paavo Pettai
of counterfeiting or falsification and aiding the making of a prohibited
donation. The chairman of the council of Tallinn, Kalev Kallo, is accused of
aiding the giving and accepting of a bribe and former politician Villu Reiljan of arranging a bribe for
Savisaar. The Center Party is to be tried as a legal person in the same case.
The investigation was conducted by the
Internal Security Service under supervision by the Office of the
Prosecutor General.